What Does Euro08 Tell Us ?

[coco]

I've watched 99.9% of the matches, digested the pre-match, half time and final analyses, debated with you good folk on these boards and refered to the internet umpteen times to research certain players, i expect most of you have been doing the same.

So whats does it all tell us, can we get some answers to our questions ?

1. Is their a striker on show that has any chance of replacing DD if he leaves ?

2. Is their a midfielder to replace Frank if he leaves ?

3. Is their a defender to replace Riccy if he leaves ?

4. Is their any player (available AND at a decent price) that has rung your bells ?

1. No

2. Deco would be a quick fix for a season or 2.

3. Afellay Holland.

4. Arshavin Russia.

[SydneyChelsea]

I've watched 99.9% of the matches, digested the pre-match, half time and final analyses, debated with you good folk on these boards and refered to the internet umpteen times to research certain players, i expect most of you have been doing the same.

So whats does it all tell us, can we get some answers to our questions ?

1. Is their a striker on show that has any chance of replacing DD if he leaves ?

2. Is their a midfielder to replace Frank if he leaves ?

3. Is their a defender to replace Riccy if he leaves ?

4. Is their any player (available AND at a decent price) that has rung your bells ?

1. No

2. Deco would be a quick fix for a season or 2.

3. Afellay Holland.

4. Arshavin Russia.

Afellay is a winger.

[Sofa Manager]

I've watched 99.9% of the matches, digested the pre-match, half time and final analyses, debated with you good folk on these boards and refered to the internet umpteen times to research certain players, i expect most of you have been doing the same.

So whats does it all tell us, can we get some answers to our questions ?

1. Is their a striker on show that has any chance of replacing DD if he leaves ?

2. Is their a midfielder to replace Frank if he leaves ?

3. Is their a defender to replace Riccy if he leaves ?

4. Is their any player (available AND at a decent price) that has rung your bells ?

Keeping in mind those 3 are almost irreplaceble (potential replacements):

1. Torres, Pavlyuchenko, Villa, Klose, Podolsky,

2. Deco, Ballack (replace his role on the whole team) and possibly Modric, V. der Vaart, Fabregas.

3. Heitinga ? Not many defenders standing out.

4. Too many. Stand out players though IMO have been Modric, Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko, Villa and a couple more.

[BlueBosnian]

Podolski keeps saying how he's not happy at Bayern. Never been too much of a fan of his, but maybe it wouldn't be a bad signing.

[JT26CFC]

didn't podolski almost sign with manchester city last season, or be on loan?

[lamps]

Podolski keeps saying how he's not happy at Bayern. Never been too much of a fan of his, but maybe it wouldn't be a bad signing.

"wouldn't be a bad signing", you're choosing words too carefully

it would be a great signing......my modest opinion <_<

also, I wouldn't agree that there was no striker seen to replace DD

there are many, it's just a question are they accesible?

I mean, DD is the beast, but not irreplaceble, there's no player that is irreplaceble

[Killbill]

What Does Euro08 Tell Us ?

That Ballack is the German player who covered more ground in every Germany game. According to this article from the Guardian Euro 08 stats prove it:

During the 1986 World Cup it was easy to form an impression that the ITV pundits Brian Clough and Mick Channon didn't exactly get along. There was the Cole Porter incident for one thing. After England had struggled against Morocco Channon began burbling about how England lacked any players who could "get by people". "The Brazilians do it," he said, "the Argentinians do it, the Danes do it..." from off camera came an unmistakable nasal whine: "Even educated fleas do it." Clough. The former Southampton striker responded with a look of grinning queasiness, like a dinner guest who has just been presented with a bib and a bowl of sheep's eyes by a heavily armed host.

Another clash between the two men occurred at half-time of France's opening game of the tournament. The French had failed to break down a solid Canada defence and Channon berated Michel Platini for his lack of effort. "He's hardly broke sweat," he chuntered. "He hasn't run a yard." Clough cocked an eyebrow. "The great ones don't need to run," he drawled with the finality of a man stamping on a beetle. Shortly after that Channon left football and moved into horse racing, a sport in which the good ones definitely do have to run. Except if I've put money on them, obviously.

Clough's pronouncement has been on my mind in the last few days because perhaps the most startling statistic of Euro 2008 so far, right up there with the fact it took 18 days for any BBC pundit to use the phrase "the Italian mindset", is the one that shows how much ground Michael Ballack chomps up in a game.

When it comes to distance travelled Germany's captain has been top of the list in every match he's played. He covered over 33 kilometres in the group stage and another 12 against Portugal - the equivalent of going from one goal-line to the other every 45 seconds. What makes this so amazing is that Ballack - in obeisance to Cloughie's dictum - never appears to run anywhere, ever.

In fact he rarely breaks into anything that even resembles a walk. Most of the time he is either standing still, or sauntering around in an apparently aimless manner, like an Edwardian boulevardier taking the evening air in the vague hope of bumping into that pretty young thing he met at yesterday's tea dance. Ballack gives the impression of playing with a striped blazer tossed nonchalantly over his shoulder and a silver-topped cane in his hand. How he is putting in more yardage than Torsten Frings, football's answer to a border collie, is a mystery. Even when Frings isn't in the side. (Paradoxically against Turkey Ballack appeared to run about a lot more than usual, but actually covered less acreage).

It would be easy to conclude from this that, since Ballack is a star and all stars are said to know when the cameras are on them, the midfielder simply waits until the lens is trained elsewhere and then embarks on a mad series of what Joe Royle used to describe as "little doggies". Either that or he's on castors. Or - and this might explain how he finds so much space in the penalty area all the time - he is the proud owner of Siegfried's cloak of obscurity and is invisible to us for most of the match.

However, I believe none of these is the case and that the explanation for his implausible stats is even more extraordinary. If you are not sitting down I suggest you find a chair before reading the next sentence. Because I think that, maybe, in this instance Clough was wrong (That doesn't mean I'm saying Channon was right, by the way. You can take things too far). It seems to me that the great ones do run about, they just make it look as if they don't. Like swans they're all grace on the surface while below it they're paddling away more furiously than all the ducks put together. The apparent effortlessness adds to the aura, it magnifies their gifts.

In the 1970s we were constantly assured that Kevin Keegan was a man of moderate abilities who had battled his way to becoming European Footballer of the Year by dint of his work ethic. I no longer believe this to be true. I think Keegan just drew our attention away from his talent by making such a big song and dance about how hard he was battling. I don't blame him for that. After all, if there's one thing the English can't abide it's a show-off.

Ballack is the latest in a long line of elegant German players. Yet despite his efforts and those of Günter Netzer, Bernd Schuster, Matthias Sammer et al, it seems Germany will always be regarded as a nation of Berti Vogtses. Berti toiled away, he sweated, he was disciplined. As a boy he tied a football to a lamp-post and headed it hundreds of times a day (no wonder he sometimes looked dazed when he was in charge of Scotland). Vogts's diligence and endeavour was admirable but it could never elevate him to greatness. A popular German joke runs: "If there was any justice in the world Berti Vogts would be Franz Beckenbauer."

If Ballack's match stats tell us anything, however, it's that this really ought to be revised. Because I bet that in reality The Kaiser ran about even more than his balding, blond team-mate. In fact, if there was any justice in the world Franz Beckenbauer would be Berti Vogts, commended for his industry and commitment as well as for his talent.

[Mr Chelsea]

I've watched 99.9% of the matches, digested the pre-match, half time and final analyses, debated with you good folk on these boards and refered to the internet umpteen times to research certain players, i expect most of you have been doing the same.

So whats does it all tell us, can we get some answers to our questions ?

1. Is their a striker on show that has any chance of replacing DD if he leaves ?

2. Is their a midfielder to replace Frank if he leaves ?

3. Is their a defender to replace Riccy if he leaves ?

4. Is their any player (available AND at a decent price) that has rung your bells ?

1. no

2. no

3. no

4. david villa and sweinstieger

[Guest]

What has Euro 08 taught us?

Probably that once again, experience rules when it comes to these tournaments.

The vast majority of the tournaments best performers were older players and of the youngsters we were all interested in seeing play, Gomez, Benzema, Gomi (you know, that french striker), etc.........most were dissappointing.

[loz]

The man thing it should have taught people is that when players don't fall over a the drop of a hat it makes for a much better spectacle. I am not saying there has been no diving at Euro 2008 but I think the level of it has been negligible in comparison with the 2006 World Cup and for me, it has been a breath of fresh air.

It also taught us that

and

are clearly in the employment of some evil billionaire hell bent on destroying the game!

[Backbiter]

perhaps the most startling statistic of Euro 2008 so far, right up there with the fact it took 18 days for any BBC pundit to use the phrase "the Italian mindset", is the one that shows how much ground Michael Ballack chomps up in a game.

Why is that startling? His stats for Chelsea bear out that he runs his nuts off every single game. Only the press don't pay any attention to facts and deal in cliches.

[Elliott]

It’s taught us that the Germans always have a ‘knack’ of fluking their way to the final, even with a pub team defence.

Switzerland should stick to making Toblerone.

It’s taught us that someone can score 40 goals a season in Germany, yet when push comes to shove, he cant hit a cows arse with a handful of rice.

It’s taught us that Ronaldo, is not necessarily the best player in the world.

Switzerland should stick to mass pen knife production.

It’s taught us that the wheels of France, have well and truly fallen off.

It’s taught us that if England were there, we would have been well and truly embarrassed by the likes of Spain. (But possibly not the Swiss).

It’s taught us that people were very quick to write of Russia, and Turkey. Wrongly in my humble opinion.

It’s taught us that if Torres scores the winner in the final, then expect a huge Spain/Liverpool/Alan Green love in..... Now he really is THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD!

[bear2k8]

Podolski keeps saying how he's not happy at Bayern. Never been too much of a fan of his, but maybe it wouldn't be a bad signing.

What a signin Podolski would be now thats what i call cheap and cheerful!

[loz]

Podolski is Milan Baros in disguise. He would be a disastrous signing.

[PloKoon13]

I mean, DD is the beast, but not irreplaceble, there's no player that is irreplaceble

What about Hasselbaink?

I mean, what have Chelsea done since he left? :D